Last weekend was a trending time on
the internet in Nigeria regarding the flood that ravaged Lagos Island starting
from Friday 7, July 2017 with a downpour that began around 11pm on Friday night
which lasted until the morning of Saturday. The next thing Lagos Islanders, particularly
residents of high brow Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki I and II, Ajah and
environs, experienced was the unwelcome invasion of waters that besieged all
corners of their street and homes and turned the whole peninsula into one large
swimming pool.
The flood
caught most residents of Lagos Island unawares as, sincerely speaking, it was a
historic flood that Lagosians had never witnessed before. I mean I saw videos
of people swimming in the flood along Lekki- Epe Expressway and of one white
rower paddling his canoe across the road opposite Silverbird Galleria in VI . Mi foh. The question on most people’s
lips was that: “What would have happened had it rained for seven days nonstop?”
Noah’s Apocalypse for Lagos Island and its billion dollar investments abi. Abeg
o.
The truth is
the flood resulted from a lot of cumulative wahalas
unresolved over time or by passed by the reason of politics. First, and from an
environmental perspective, is that the drainage system in Lagos Island (inadequate
and inefficient to start) became overwhelmed by the deluge that assailed it,
helped largely by blockage caused by refuse dumps poured into running gutters during
rain by illiterate slum dwellers in Lagos Island. That’s the polished “politically
correct” reason for the flooding. OK.
The real
reason, not to hide under lingos and political lies, is that land reclamation
for super real estate projects that had taken over Lagos Island pushed the
lagoon to overflow its constricted natural cup and it will continue until Lagos
State innovate ways to channel the drainage system all over Lagos efficiently and find a way
to compensate the sea goddess (Yemoja) for invading her space to make
habitations for rich people. Lol.
Seriously speaking
eyin temi, the flood that happened
over the weekend in Lagos Island was not a joke and the prayer is that it
should not happen again. The economic loss and psychological trauma that followed it was too much. But will prayer appease Nature and Mother-Fish (don't mind me) when she decides to
react to imbalance in her system. That’s a question for the amiable Governor of
Lagos State to answer when June beckons in 2018. It’s time for all of us that live
in and love Lagos State to be proactive and take stand to protect the city we
love so much.
Be green.
WSO
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